okada



Sept. 6, 1932. Y. OKADA 1,875,485

BELT CONVEYER SCALE OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29,1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 K967119705 Okafa y da'hw.

A fie/-71 ey Sept. 6, 1932. Y. OKADA 1,875,435

BELT CONVEYER-SCALE OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fill I'm/6112* ookivolu OkecZa By 3.. a Z

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 PATENT OFFICE Yosnmonu oxana, or rxnemr-cno, JAPAN BELT comnm. scans on THE LIKE Application filed December 29,\1981, 8eria1: No. 583,775, and in Japan October 3, 1981.

transporting means such as a train of cars.

The ob'ect of my invention is in obviating the disadvantages which have heretofore been experienced in this sort of a paratus and providing a conveyer scale of integrating type in which the maximum inclination of the integrating disc can be very much increased without jeopardizing the accuracy of measurement. 8

In the weighing apparatus of this sort hitherto in use, the main scale beam is maintained in stable equilibrium by means of a pendulum provided thereon or an iron float partially submergedin a mercury cylinder, and an end of the main scale beam is connected to the integrating disc by means of a connecting rod and a crank, the system including the disc being maintained in neu- 14, at fulcrum 18, which is situated near the tral equilibrium.

In contradistinction thereto, in my invention, the lever system including a scale beam is maintained in neutral equilibrium, whilev the system including the integrating disc is maintained in stable equilibrium by providinga pendulum on a frame rotatably supporting the disc, the moment of force being transmitted through the intermediaryiof a circular cam and a steel tape hung over it. 7

Owing to this construction, in the apparatus ofmy invention, the maximum inclination of the integrating disc can be increased as far as degrees, instead of below 25 degrees as in the apparatus heretofore, thus exceedingly increasing the sensitivity of the apparatus.

The, accompanying drawings illustrate the preferable form of the apparatus according to my invention in which, i

Fig. 1 is an elevation diagrammatically representing the entire construction of the apparatus in co-operation'with a conveyer belt. a

Fig, 2 is an enlarged front elevation, partially broken away, of the integrating mechanism. h

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 4is a side elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1, 1 is a belt conveyer movable on a plurality of statlonary rollers 2. 3 is a floating platform disposed at a suitable position of the passage way of the belt 1. The belt 1 also rolls along the rollers 4 provided on the floating platform; The floating platform 3 is suspended from a cross bar 5 by means of a pair of pension rods 6, and the cross bar 5 is in turn hanged at the middle point thereof from an intermediate scale beam 7, as from the pivotal point 8, by means of a rod 9. Qne end of the intermediate scale beam, which is nearer the pivotal point 8, is pivotally connected, as at 10, to a stationary floor plate 11 by means of a rod 12, While the other end is pivotally connected, as at 13, to one end of the main scale beam 14, as at 15, by means of a connecting rod 16. I

Fixed on the floor plate 11 is a standard 17 pivotally supporting the main scale beam load end 15. From the counterpoise end of the main scale beam 14 is suspended, as at 19, a rod 20, the lower end of which is connected to a steel tape 36, which is in turn hun around the circular cam of the automat1c weight integrating mechanism to be described in detail hereinbelow. From a suitable point 22, intermediately of the fulcrum 18 and the counterpoise end 19, of the main scale-beam 14, is suspended, by means of a rod 23 and a frame work 24, a counterweight 25 exactly balancing the entire scale system including the scale beams, the rods and the floating platform. 26 is a dash pot consisting of a cylinder fixed to the floor plate 11 and a piston moving in the cylinder and connected to the rod 23,'to dampen the vibrations of the entire scale system.

Owing to the fact that the pivotal points 8, 10 and 13 and the centre of gravity of the intermediate scale beam on one hand, and the pivotal points 15, 18, 19 and 22 and the centre of gravity of the main scale beam on the, other hand, are collinear, the system consisting of two scale beams is in neutral equilibrium. This fact constitutes one of the main characteristics o1 my invention.

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate the details of the integrating mechanism according to my invention, in which 27 is an integrating disc preferably'made of a light metal alloyv and adapted to rotate about the horizontalxaxi's 28, which is rigid with the disc 27 and journalled in a frame 29. The frame 29 is again fixed to another "frame 30; w'vhoseplane isparallel to the plane of rotation of the disc 27.

Projecting horizontally from both sides of the frame 30 and inperpendicularrelation with the axis of rotation 28 are a pair ofaxles 31, 81 journalled in the pedestals 32, 32 enabling the disc 27 to turn round these axles while rotating about its own axis 28. One of'thel axles -31, 31is outwardly extended, and ri'gidlymounted 'on this extended por tion are a=pehdulu1n38 and a semi-circular cam 84; At one end of the periphery of the cam is fixed, as at 35, the outer endiof a steel tape 36which-is-hung around the periphery to be brought upwardly and connectedto 5 the connectingrod QO-pro'vided at the-outer end 19 of the *main' scale beam 14. The pendulum'33 is adjustable-by means otaa =nut 37', sothatthe center of gravityof the system oscillating about the horizontal axle 31 may be suitably varied? 1 W r "The fact that'the equilibrium of the: oscillatingsystein including the integrating disc is made stable by means of the pendulum 33 and 'theuse of the circular camto transmit the moment of force to the disc constitute otherimportant characteristics of my invention? Provided along the entire periphery of the integrating disc'QT-are'a multitude of small rollers 38 tnrnable "about the respective axes which are in tangential relation with-referenceto'the peripheryof the integratingdisc. In rubbing contact "with theperiphery of the integrating disc a't its diametrically opposite points is an endless belt 39 guided by four rollers 40, to be'driven' in a'horizontal pathl 1-1 is'a'n adjustable roller for regulating the-tension of the endless belt 39.-

Directly coupled-teens of' the' rollers 40 is a bevel gear 1-2 meshingwith another bevel gear 4:8 rigid with a sprocket wheel 44. Bearing on the conveyor belt 1 is a roller rigid with a sprocket 46. The two sprocket wheels 44. and- 16 are operatively connected together by means of an endless chain 47.

dicated on the dial of the indicator. Fractions of weight corresponding to one revolution of the integrating disc may be directly indicated upon the surface of the disc as shown in Fig. 2.

\Vhen there is no lead being transported by the conveyor. 1, there is no pull acting upwardly along the steel tap 36, and the in tegrating disc assumes its vertical position. Owing to the factthat the endless belt 39 travels in perpendicular relation with re spect to the disc, it simply slides along the diametrically opposite points of the periphery' of the disc, causing the two opposite rollers 38-to rotate idly by themselves, and consequently, the idiscwill not be rotated.

As soon as a load being transportedalong the conveyerl steps over the floating platform 3, however, aforce .which is proportional to the total weight onthe platform at that instant will be transmitted, through a series'ofleversystems to the periphery of the circular cam 34, causing the integrating disc 27 to-incline, while a counteracting, restoring moment of force due to the inclination of the stable system consistingof the disc, the cam, the pendulum-andthe-frame .will be introduced. An equilibrium will the n be established-in the whole system including the two scale-beamsandthe disc, at an inclination of the disc,-the sine of which is proportional to the-instantaneous load on theplatform. Since the integrating disc is no longer in perpendicular relation with respect to the travelling endless oelt 39, but isinelined to it at an angle, the disc will be driven at a speed proportional to the sine of the angle of inclination, that is,'to the instantaneous load. This speed is certainly proportional to the instantaneous speed of the conveyer belt 1. Sothat, the peripheral velocity of the integrating disc will be proportional to the instantaneous load as well'as to the velocity of the conveyer, that is, to the product of these two factors, or the weightbeing transported perfunit of time at that particular moment. And it naturally follows that the weight of material conveyed through the scale in a period of time is proportional to the correspending number of revolutions of the integrating disc.-

I \Vhat I- claim is: v

1. automatic apparatus for integrating the weight being transported,comprising a scale beam in neutral equilibrium, an integrating mechanism in stable equilibrium in clud ing a disc and a rotatable frame rotatahly supporting the said disc, a circular cam provided on .the' said frame, and a fiexible means connecting the said cam and the said scale beam.

-2. An automatic apparatus .forintegrating the weight being transported,comprising a scale beam in neutral equilibrium, anintegrating mechanism in stable equilibrium ineluding a disc and a rotatable frame rotatably I supporting the said disc, a pendulum pro-- vided on the frame, a circular cam provided also on the frame, and a flexible means con necting the said cam and the said scale beam.

3. An automatic apparatus for integrating the weight being trans orted, comprising a floating platform, a sca e beam in neutral. equilibrium, a counterweight provided on the scale beam, an integrating mechanism in stable equilibrium including a disc and a rotatable frame rotatably supporting the said disc, an adjustable pendulum provided on the frame, a circular cam also provided on the frame, and a flexible band connecting the said cam and the said scale beam.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

YOSHINOBU OKADA. 

